Isle of Wight patients concerned about access to NHS dentistry and GP appointments
Healthwatch have been hearing concerns from patients
Isle of Wight patients are concerned about the access to NHS dentistry and GP appointments, according to Healthwatch.
The latest Healthwatch report found 74 percent of feedback from patients to be negative.
Healthwatch receives feedback from their experience of health and care and organises their activities based on what most matters to people.
Siobhain McCurrach works for the watchdog and said: "For a long time, access to NHS dental appointments has been a big problem.
"People are struggling if they have not been to a dentist for at least six months, 12 months, that they no longer are on the list of patients.
"They misunderstand that GP surgeries register patients but NHS dentists do not have the same process, so any patient can go to any dental surgery to have treatment, they do not need to be registered at it.
"Certainly through Covid, when a lot of patients did not seek appointments, they then received a letter from the dental surgery saying: 'We've reviewed our patient list, you have not been a patient at this surgery for the last six or 12 months.
"We are therefore informing you that there are no appointments available for you to book, and please seek alternative arrangements', basically.
"So people phoned up in distress thinking that their place was safe at this particular surgery."
She added that other factors are also causing concern with dental surgeries choosing to provide private as opposed to NHS-funded dental care.
Ms McCurrach, said it's causing an issue with many people unable to afford to pay for private care.
We have reached out to NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight for a comment.